Overview:

The Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) has caused the MERS outbreak that first originated in Saudi Arabia, but since has spread to other countries around the world (1). The spike glycoprotein (S) of coronavirus belongs to the type I transmembrane protein containing two subunits (2), S1 and S2, which is known to be the key component to bind with host cells through interaction with dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4) (3). MERS-CoV can recognize DPP4 through its receptor binding domain (RBD) of S1 to initiate viral infection in humans (2).

Gene Aliases:

ADABP; ADCP2; CD26; DPPIV; TP103

Genbank Number:

NM_001935

References:

1. Mohd H, et al: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) origin and animal reservoir. Viral J. 2016, 13: 87.

2. Lu G, et al: Molecular basis of binding between novel human coronavirus MERS-CoV and its receptor CD26. Nature. 2013, 500: 227-231.

3. Al-Tawfiq et al: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) Infection. Emerging Infectious Diseases. 2014, 185-190.